JICA delegates call on Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder at his office. Photo: PID

DHAKA, May 12, 2025 (BSS) - A delegation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) led by its chief ICHIGUCHI Tomohide today called on Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder at his office here.

During the meeting, the delegation discussed Food Safety Testing Capacity Development Project, financed by the JICA and emphasized on the selection of the director of the project and its consultants.

They also discussed the increase of the manpower for the Safe Food Authority and introduction of a sole and vast food trading licensing system in the country like Japan and other Asian countries.

The 10-year project, which has been taken at a cost of Taka 2,409.70 crore, will help to attain the capacity for testing of food safety in Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna divisions by setting up of a food safety referral laboratory in Dhaka, two food testing laboratories and a training institute in Chattogram and Khulna.

The adviser urged the concerned authorities to take appropriate steps to ensure safety of food for the people from the production to dining table by production, processing, stock, supply, marketing and selling of food items identifying its problems and challenges.

He thanked the JICA for providing assistance to the Food Safety Testing Capacity Development Project and expressed his hope the successful implementation of the project for establishing discipline in the food management in the country.

The JICA team thanked the adviser for the constitution of the ‘Food Safety Management Taskforce’ led by the Cabinet Secretary of the country.

Among others, senior officials of the JICA, Food Secretary Md Masudul Hassan and senior officials of the ministry, were present during the meeting.